cascom Loc: Redmond

I am a member of Findagrave. I photograph local grave markers. I have found it is fun to get the marker's lines square and correct for color in Photoshop. Trying to correct for weather-caused defects is sometimes a challenge. Using a cell phone adds GPS data for relatives. I thought this might be an interesting way for children to learn photography.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Excellent idea!
There are many missing images. I have added a couple.
And added links to other family memorials for some.
I use that site a lot for genealogy.
VERY handy!

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

You can shoot and edit with your cellphone very easily- right on the spot. First, download this FREE app SNAPSEED. This is surprisingly excellent editing software. You will know exactly waht you chav captured and edited before you leave the site, If you are not satisfied, you can immediately re-do any action as you edit or re-shoot and re-edit immediately.

When shooting a tombstone, marker, monument, etc, try to line the "camera" up so it is vertically parralle to the subject- avoid shooting up or down at the marker-if possible. Then, share the image with SNAPSEED. If there's any remaining distortion- foreshortening or elongation you apply the "Perspective" tool and normalize the converging lines. There is a "Detail" tool that is a kind of HD and sharpening setting that will bring out fine detail and sharpen the image. The "healing" too will remove some stains or distractions. You can also control density, contrast, saturation, cropping, and more. The Perspective tool and the "Extension" tool have built-in Auto-Fill- which works very nicely!

Hanging around a cemetery does not sound like a whole lot of good fun for the kids and children might be more entertained and interested to learn about photography in a more " happy" or festive environment.

Kudos- you are providing a service to families or individuals who are researching their heritage or are unable to visit family gravesites and pay their respects.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I use FAG extensively for genealogy. It is a great tool and I appreciate all the volunteers who take pictures. Quality is highly variable but still gets the job done.

Muzzlehatch Loc: Mount Vernon, NY

There was a time when people would go to the graveyard to clean and maintain their family gravesites and maybe have a picnic.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I have found that website very useful in filling gaps in my family history. I applaud anyone who takes the effort to publish such information.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Because how could children not get excited about photographing headstones!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Good idea for kids.
Some monuments are quite interesting. Also you can see where something like cholera ran through a community with large numbers of babies dying in a matter of a month of each other, history lesson and can be looked up.
I started going to the local cemetery as a youth, was fascinated by the Japanese sector as well as the other segregated sectors showing different cultures and languages. Also as above dates and ages that related to historical events like the Spanish Flu.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

I enjoyed doing this for a while. I was surprised at the high competition for assignments, this appears to be a very popular hobby.

DonB Loc: Port Royal , Tn

It does seem like that. However, please if you do submit photos, please finish the process. I spent 3 hot days two years hunting graves in a KY graveyard to fulfill requests. Had three pages of requests. Got home, processed all 40 some photographs, started the submission process. All of the headstones were already photographed, however somewhere there was or is a disconnect. On the site there is/was a box to check showing that the request had been fulfilled. In none of my 40 some request's had that box been checked. Don't know if it was the photographers mistake or a function of the site program. Please check and make sure that the photograph is not in place before you make the trip.

Canisdirus

Heh...yes...because children love graveyards.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

I use Findagrave a lor. Thank you for contributing to it.

KarenKaptures Loc: New Jersey

😂

rangel28

LOL!

LeeR

Thanks for your work. Because someone took and posted a photo of a grave marker, I was able to find out that a friend from our days in Vietnam had passed.